Tag: 3BL

Most American children don’t grow up worrying about missile strikes. At night, most are tucked into bed somewhere warm, clean and safe. Children in conflict-affected countries face a different reality. They go to bed in war-torn villages or crowded refugee tents. As they close their eyes, they might hear bombs overhead or the sound of gunshots. And often, they go to bed hungry.

At the end of 2023, over 117 million people were forcibly displaced. In 2024 so far, that number has likely exceeded 120 million. Children account for 40% of this number.

Each year, more and more people are driven from their homes. The number of forcibly displaced people has risen by 8% since the end of 2022, with people displaced due to atrocities like persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations. Many flee with no escape plan and no connections to the new place where they will live. Around 90% of displaced people are in low- and middle-income countries, which have fewer resources to help.

While some make arduous treks across borders, others remain internally displaced miles from their home. At the end of 2023, the number of internally displaced people rose to 75.9 million, an increase of almost 50% in five years. It is an all-time high.

Conflict is the primary cause of the crisis. Since World War II ended, the absolute number of conflict-related deaths has declined. Now, after a period of comparative peace, conflict is again on the rise.

It’s a vicious cycle: conflict, displacement, and hunger chase each other. When violence pushes people out, they’re forced to travel long distances in search of safety. Some go days without food and weeks without shelter. They arrive hungry, distressed, and often ill, with little to their name. Most leave behind their livelihoods and thus have no income to support themselves or their families. Instead, they start from scratch.

Gaza

It’s been over eight months since the crisis in Gaza began, and over 75% of the population, or 1.7 million people, are internally displaced. Families live in informal settlements that lack safe sanitation. Sewage floods the streets. Many stay in a city only briefly before they are forced to relocate again, avoiding dangerous bombardment from air, land, or sea. Nowhere is safe in Gaza.

“We are living in a state of non-existence,” said Raghad, a 19-year-old university student who was displaced. She once studied at The University College of Applied Science in Gaza but said that the universities were bombed. Now she shares a tiny, damp tent with her entire family. “War doesn’t have a roadmap,” she said. “You don’t know when it will end. Right now, I just want to live abroad, continue my education, my life, my university, my studies, and the dreams and aspirations that I’ve been deprived of.”

Many families fled to Rafah before intensified hostilities there forced more than one million people to move again, leaving fewer than 100,000 people in the city. Men, women, and children are suffering from extreme hunger. In these informal settlements, children are facing unprecedented malnutrition, which leaves them vulnerable to a range of illnesses.

Famine is imminent. Over half of the population, or 1.1 million people, are projected to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Our teams are still on the ground in Gaza, working hard to provide hot meals; trucking clean water to communities; connecting people with shelters; and assisting with sanitation and hygiene.

We’ve been working in Gaza since 2005 and the West Bank since 2002. Prior to October 2023, we didn’t run nutrition programs there, since less than 1% of Gaza’s children under five were acutely malnourished. Now, our emergency nutrition program in Deir al-Balah aims to reach 13,000 vulnerable women and children. We’ve reached a total of 837,000 people in Gaza since the current conflict began.

Ukraine

War in Ukraine has forced over 10 million people to flee their homes. Nearly four million are internally displaced — a quarter of whom are children. The other six million live as refugees abroad.

Neighborhoods are now ghost towns. The violence has destroyed much of the country, permanently damaging hospitals, homes, schools, and power systems.

Displaced families are left with an uncertain future — without a home, a job, or any of their belongings. The mental health crisis is especially prominent in Ukraine, as children and parents alike suffer from trauma and anxiety.

Maksim, a 15-year-old living in refugee center in Dnipro, fled with his grandmother. He hasn’t seen his father since the war started. He remembers his park getting bombed — a shell landed only a few feet from him. “I was sitting on a bench with a friend and was hit by all the wind, stones, and dust,” he said. “I covered my friend to protect him and now I have two wounds on my legs. It’s a miracle we survived. At that moment, I realized how much I wanted to live.”

Action Against Hunger works with partners in Ukraine to support others like Maksim. From March 2022 to February 2024 alone, we helped nearly 960,000 of the country’s most vulnerable people. We distribute hot meals, food, and cash assistance; give out hygiene kits; rebuild water and sanitation services; and provide healthcare and psychosocial counseling sessions.

Sudan

Sudan is currently one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises. Since April 2023, more than 8.8 million people have fled their homes, with 7.1 million internally displaced. Families have increasingly little food, water, sanitation facilities, or access to healthcare. As food insecurity rises, many are even facing death. Today, 24.8 million people in Sudan are in need of assistance.

Some displaced people in Sudan were originally from South Sudan, and now must return to their country of origin — although some were so young when they left, it is a place they do not remember. One of these returnees, Nyibol and her young daughter, crossed the border back to South Sudan in April 2024.

Nyibol was also pregnant at the time. She fled after gunmen targeted her home and set it on fire. Forced to flee, she and her young daughter took four days to cross to the town of Majok, South Sudan. “They burned my house. My husband and I ran from the attack. We got separated running for our survival,” she said. “I had no idea if my husband or daughter was alive. I thought maybe they were killed. The next day after the attack I returned to our old house to search through the ash, looking for them thinking they may have burned to death. But I saw no one.”

Fortunately, Nyibol reunited with her family in South Sudan. She’s one of the lucky few. Yet, her family lost everything except one another. Action Against Hunger has been in Sudan since 2018 and has been providing additional emergency assistance in the last year since the conflict began. We’ve reached 500,000 people with food, water, sanitation and hygiene services, as well as protection, especially for women and girls. We also work near towns like Majok and screen refugees for malnutrition when they cross the border into South Sudan.

Helping Refugees Around the World

Action Against Hunger works closely with refugees to help them rebuild their lives. Some of our staff members are refugees themselves. Every day, we work to prevent and treat malnutrition, provide mental health services, improve access to water and sanitation, and support displaced people, wherever they end up. As conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine rage on, our teams face the displacement crisis head-on. Want to help? A first step is by sharing this story.

Read more here: There Are More Refugees in the World Than Ever Before | Action Against Hunger

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

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Photos by Peter Caton and Arthur De Poortere

Written with support from Kenneal Patterson

This unique intersection of art and science is a wonderful demonstration of how two seemingly opposite subjects can come together in a beautiful way.

Often science, or STEM, and the arts are looked at very differently. Science can be seen as analytical and art more poetic. But what happens when they intersect?

In a serene residential area of Spring House, Pennsylvania, sits a pivotal innovation center dedicated to testing and evaluating waterborne coatings, or more commonly characterized as paint. With its impressive footprint of over 40,000 panels and over 120,000 individual paints/tests, the Dow Exposure Station conducts comprehensive evaluations that are used by our R&D team to help improve paint quality for homes and communities. Customers and leaders from the coatings and adjacent industries can study the long-term performance of paints and collaborate with us on enhancing industry standards.

For over 70 years, this research facility has helped advance the performance and quality of residential and commercial paint.  When one of our scientists saw its potential through a different lens, the Dow Exposure Station took on an expanded purpose, one at the intersection of science and art.

Mindy Keefe, R&D Director and art enthusiast, has a passion for art conservation research. She sees the science of art.

Her long-time research partner and friend, Rosie Grayburn, sees it too. Rosie is the Head of Scientific Analysis and Research Lab at Winterthur Museum which has a unique partnership with University of Delaware. Together, they offer the Winterthur/ University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC), one of the world’s leading art conservation programs.

Rosie and Mindy recognized the value the Dow Exposure Station could have for WUDPAC students. It is a one-of-a-kind educational platform for the next generation of art conservators, who will be tasked with the preservation of our painted cultural heritage.

Rosie and Mindy began inviting first-year graduate students in WUDPAC to visit the Dow Exposure Station and experience the importance of understanding material properties for art preservation and the value of connecting experts.

It has become an annual event for us and WUDPAC. In April 2024, thirteen students along with University of Delaware Doctoral Fellow Liora Mael visited the Dow Exposure Station. Hosted by Senior TS&D Scientist Heather Eckenrode, the elite group of students experienced an immersive educational journey. Together, they explored the site, delved into the intricacies of paint composition and aging mechanisms, and learned about the rigorous performance testing that each material undergoes.

The students also had the fun opportunity to help celebrate the 70-year anniversary of paint series 54K, which is famous in the industry for its robust performance.

“This was a special opportunity to learn about cutting edge research and evaluation methods in the paint industry,” said one of the WUDPAC graduate students. “As someone interested in paint degradation in an art historical context, I am inspired to learn about this research to preserve color and integral paint properties for generations to come.”

Tracy Young, Global R&D Director for Dow’s Coatings and Performance Monomers division said: “This unique intersection of art and science is a wonderful demonstration of how two seemingly opposite subjects can come together in a beautiful way. It’s also a wonderful reminder that technical volunteerism is a powerful resource when the right groups are connected.”

Bridget Dombroski, Senior TS&D Leader

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, commonly known as PFAS, have taken center stage in the world of environmental regulation and corporate responsibility. In recent years, the evolving landscape surrounding PFAS has brought about significant changes in how these chemicals are perceived, managed, and reported. From new testing methods and toxicological research to heightened risk assessments, the implications of PFAS extend far beyond scientific laboratories.

This eBook aims to provide a comprehensive guide to navigating the evolving world of PFAS regulations, addressing crucial topics such as risk assessment, drinking water contamination, treatment technologies, and the impact of accelerating regulatory changes. Whether you are an environmental professional, a corporate executive, a facility manager, or simply someone looking to understand the implications of PFAS, this eBook offers valuable insights to help you navigate the complex terrain of PFAS regulation in 2024 and beyond.

In this eBook, you’ll find the following sections:

PFAS: An OverviewIdentifying PFAS Risk in Drinking WaterWhat’s Your PFAS Risk Level? Not Knowing Could Be CostlyHow Accelerating PFAS Regulations are Magnifying Your Business RiskUnderstanding PFAS Reporting Requirements for 2024 and BeyondPFAS Action Plan You Can Implement Right Now

Download Here!

Spending summertime outdoors, near lakes and streams, or hiking in nature, naturally brings environmental issues to the forefront. The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) addresses several critical areas, particularly water, energy, and climate, which are crucial for preserving these natural landscapes. As summer unfolds, it’s an excellent time to catch up on the progress and initiatives undertaken by BIER. Here’s a mid-year review highlighting some key activities and accomplishments:

1. Water Stewardship: Celebrating World Water Day 2024

Water stewardship remains a foundational focus for BIER. In 2024, BIER celebrated World Water Day by reaffirming its commitment to sustainable water management. This included efforts to protect water sources, improve water use efficiency, and support water-related ecosystems. BIER’s initiatives aim to mitigate water scarcity and ensure access to clean water for communities and ecosystems.

Encouraging others to take water action, BIER released the True Cost of Water Toolkit 3.0 and the 2023 Water, Energy, and Emissions Efficiency Benchmarking Study.

The True Cost of Water Toolkit 3.0 includes all the costs associated with the use of water, including purchasing water, energy to heat, cool, and transport water, chemicals and other materials used to treat water, and discharge costs. The toolkit is available for complimentary download.

BIER’s 2023 Water, Energy, and Emissions Efficiency Benchmarking Study

marked BIER’s 12th global benchmarking study – a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of water, energy, and emissions efficiency in the beverage industry. In its 12 benchmarking studies, BIER has evaluated 18 years of industry performance for nearly 2,000 facilities worldwide. The final results represent a comprehensive set of production, water, energy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions metrics which are normalized, categorized, and analyzed by facility and beverage type.

2. Sustainable Commercial Refrigeration: BIER Coolition

Since 2021, BIER has been working on reducing the environmental impact of commercial refrigeration equipment used in the beverage industry. The BIER Coolition, a collaborative initiative involving BIER members, refrigeration equipment manufacturers, component suppliers, and recyclers, aims to drive significant positive change in this area. This project focuses on enhancing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting the circular economy through better recycling practices.

3. Collaboration in Action: BIER’s May Meeting

In May 2024, BIER members gathered in person at Pernod Ricard’s headquarters. This meeting was an opportunity for networking, discussing, and developing innovative solutions to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. Key topics included enhancing supply chain sustainability, improving resource efficiency, and setting ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions. These face-to-face interactions accelerate progress and foster deeper collaboration among the members. A few highlights included:

TNFD (Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures): This initiative focuses on assessing and disclosing risks and opportunities related to biodiversity and nature. BIER has collaborated with TNFD to develop guidance and metrics for applying the TNFD approach to the beverage sector in advance of its planned release for public consultation in June 2024.CSRD (Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure): Implementing CSRD is a significant challenge for all businesses, and BIER continued its 2nd year of collaboration to foster understanding and implementation of CSRD within the beverage sector.FLAG (Forest, Land and Agriculture) Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi): A majority of BIER members have already committed to or set emissions reduction targets through the SBTi. FLAG establishes additional requirements for land-based emissions from supply chain agricultural emissions. BIER members shared their experiences setting FLAG targets, and the latest implementation developments.Sustainability Roadmap Challenges: Every roadmap faces hurdles. BIER members explored the technical and organizational challenges and opportunities to deliver robust sustainability performance.Watershed Collaboration: Building upon the success of Charco Bendito, BIER members are exploring new watershed collaboration opportunities. Initial efforts from BIER’s latest collaboration which is focused on India, were discussed and shaped by participation by representatives from WaterAid.

Spending time in nature during the summer naturally draws attention to the environmental issues that BIER is working to address. BIER’s efforts in water conservation, energy efficiency, and climate action are crucial for preserving the natural beauty we enjoy. It is the highlighted activities mentioned above that affirm BIER’s ongoing dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Whether through water conservation efforts, pioneering sustainable refrigeration technologies, or fostering collaboration among industry leaders, BIER continues to play a crucial role in driving positive environmental change in the beverage industry. This summer, take some time to delve into these initiatives and stay informed about BIER’s impactful work.

DALLAS, June 20, 2024 /3BL/ – Mary Kay Inc., a global leader in skin care innovation, recently revealed the results of two breakthrough research studies: first, an antioxidant treatment that can diminish the visible effects of pollution and aging on human skin; and second, a focus on the applications of computational tools to accurately predict the safety and potential reactions of human skin to various cosmetic ingredients. These findings were shared by Mary Kay scientists at the 2024 Society of Investigative Dermatology (SID) meeting in Dallas, Texas. The company was a silver-level sponsor of the event.

“Mary Kay scientists are at the forefront of skin care research, and we’re pleased to share our latest findings with the broader scientific community,” said Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Innovation Officer, Product & Science at Mary Kay. The ongoing partnership with the Society of Investigative Dermatology underscores Mary Kay’s dedication to advancing skincare science. By maintaining collaborative efforts, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to making significant breakthroughs in the field of dermatology, ultimately providing consumers with safer and more effective skincare solutions.

“Mary Kay’s enduring commitment to research and development aligns perfectly with our goals at the Society for Investigative Dermatology,” said Dr. Rebecca Minnillo, Chief Program, Communications and Development Officer at SID. “Our sustained partnership enables us to explore new frontiers in dermatological science, bringing us closer to breakthroughs that can transform skin care and treatment options.”

Mary Kay’s research into the effects of air pollution on skin, conducted through multiple academic collaborations since 2016, revealed that an antioxidant blend of resveratrol, niacinamide, and oligopeptide-1 protects natural skin surface lipids from oxidative damage caused by particulate matter (PM) and UV radiation, both alone and combined. Additionally, this blend has been found to prevent free radical formation induced by blue light, demonstrating its potential in mitigating the detrimental effects of multiple environmental stressors on the skin.

Furthermore, Mary Kay is leveraging computational toxicology tools to enhance ingredient safety assessment of cosmetic and personal care ingredients. This innovative approach involves the use of advanced computational methods to predict the safety and potential toxicity of ingredients at an early stage, significantly reducing the need for extensive laboratory testing. Virtual screening allows for the early screening of compounds, ensuring only safe ingredients proceed in the development process. This method not only saves time and resources but also aligns with ethical and regulatory standards. By integrating these advanced tools, Mary Kay underscores its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for product development, ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficacy for its consumers.

Mary Kay’s Dr. Gildea also hosted a compelling panel at SID, titled “Insights into the Effects of Pollution on Skin Health: Recent Discoveries & Emerging Perspectives,” comprising experts from varied fields of dermatology and molecular biology. Panelists included Dr. Thomas Haarmann-Stemmann, Group Leader at the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, who discussed the link between increased ambient temperature and skin aging. Dr. Elma Baron, Associate Professor of Dermatology at Case Western Reserve University, emphasized the significance of topical antioxidants in mitigating oxidative stress and improving skin health. Dr. Hong Sun, Assistant Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, delved into molecular changes in skin cells exposed to environmental stressors, demonstrating the efficacy of antioxidant treatments in reversing gene expression changes associated with skin damage induced by UV and pollution exposure.

The sponsorship and findings presented at the 2024 SID meeting represent the latest efforts by Mary Kay to reinforce the brand’s long-standing commitment to advancing research and development in skin health and beauty. With over 1,600 patents for products, technologies, and packaging designs in its global portfolio, Mary Kay continues to lead the way in skincare innovation.

About Mary Kay

Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

By Dana Obrist

Confidence in the small business outlook is on the rise.

According to a December 2023 report from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, despite headwinds from high inflation and a tight labor market, small business confidence was up at year-end and remains steady after the first quarter of 2024.

And that is good news for business owners, including the more than 600,000 Hispanic small business owners in Florida. The Sunshine State ranks as the second highest in the number of Hispanic small business owners.

We had an opportunity to sit down with Regions Commercial Banking and Private Wealth Management bankers in Central Florida to talk about the state of the market for Hispanic business owners and what challenges may still be lingering.

Challenges Remain

“Access to capital,” said Dario Orozco, Regions Commercial Banking relationship manager. “This is the No. 1 challenge that many small business owners are facing, and with higher interest rates and inflation, this access becomes even more critical.”

Joey Leyva, owner of Acapulco Tropical, noted that they are seeking to continue to open new locations in Central Florida to reach the growing community of newer immigrants to help them as they adapt to life in the U.S.

Access to capital. This is the No. 1 challenge that many small business owners are facing, and with higher interest rates and inflation, this access becomes even more critical.

Dario Orozco, Regions Commercial Banking relationship manager

“We see an increased opportunity for the market since many people have migrated from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela in the past two years,” said Leyva.

But, hiring and retaining talent along with higher payroll costs has proven to be challenging for Leyva and other business owners.

“The challenges that many of us are seeing is in hiring bilingual people to target the market we are in and pay rates have gone up significantly,” said Leyva.

Understanding the Banking Landscape

Zenaida Negron, Regions Commercial Banking relationship manager in Orlando, is one of many bilingual commercial relationship managers in Central Florida. She sees this trend of the growing Hispanic population in the market as an opportunity to educate business owners and consumers alike on the U.S. banking system.

“We work with many professional service providers in the market and often serve as a conduit with the Hispanic community,” said Negron. “From attorneys to accountants, we are often engaged to work with their Hispanic clients who are business owners in this market.”

Her colleague Maria Rojas agrees.

“We are crucial for business owners, especially as they are coming from outside the U.S.,” said Rojas. “They look to us to help them understand more around the business and financial landscape.”

We work with many professional service providers in the market and often serve as a conduit with the Hispanic community.

Inflationary Impacts, a Mixed Bag

An owner of a chain of grocery stores we talked to pointed to inflation as a key challenge facing consumers, noting that the supermarket industry is often a good gauge for the overall economy.

But there may be some positive impact on this business according to another grocery store owner we spoke with who noted that they have experienced an uptick in business as a result of higher prices in large chain grocery stores leading to more traditional shoppers shifting their business to Latin supermarkets where prices may be lower.

Shifting Strategies

Tomas H. Bello, President and owner of Tuwa Pro LLC, a Jeep and utility vehicle accessory wholesaler and retailer, noted that the current obstacles are constant. From competition from national distributors and increasing customer demand for shorter shipping periods, they need to stock larger inventory selections to compete.

“The economic growth in the Central Florida region has allowed for increased demand in our products,” said Bello. “Access to capital has allowed us to fund those larger orders from Latin America and Asia that are essential for us to keep our competitive advantage and offer same-day shipping and delivery for local orders.”

Another supermarket owner noted that global supply chain challenges have shifted their model to purchasing more locally grown produce, something many consumers like to see. Similarly, while some consumers are feeling the pinch of higher interest rates, another grocery store owner in Central Florida noted that she hasn’t seen much impact in terms of their business as most of the transactions in her stores are cash, debit card or EBT.

Resources for Hispanic Small Business Owners

Alex Gonzalez, Regions Private Wealth Management executive for the North Florida region, is very involved with the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando. Regions has been a member for many years and recently expanded its commitment, becoming a Trustee member. Gonzalez is a member of the Hispanic Business Advocacy Committee, was involved in the 2023 Don Quijote Awards, and serves as the liaison between the Chamber and Regions.

“The Chamber offers events and resources to help businesses connect and grow within our community,” noted Gonzalez. “Chamber benefits help business owners navigate through all stages of the business life cycle.

He shared that the Chamber also partners with two organizations that specialize in helping businesses get started in the market through Prospera and the Hispanic Economic Advancement Foundation, a newly formed nonprofit that is helping existing businesses scale and expand.

The Chamber offers events and resources to help businesses connect and grow within our community.

Alex Gonzalez, Regions Private Wealth Management executive

Founder of the Hispanic Economic Advancement Foundation and former CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando, Gaby Ortigoni, noted that the growth trends of the Hispanic population and subsequent Hispanic business community have been fueled by population surges following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the Sunshine State’s open-for-business policy during COVID-19.

“With the proximity of the island and Latin American countries, we saw an increase of businesses from Puerto Rico and Latin America as they relocated to either open or expand their businesses,” said Ortigoni. “Central Florida offers a vibrant market for small businesses.”

Ortigoni left her post as CEO of the Hispanic Chamber in early 2024 to launch the Hispanic Economic Advancement Foundation, seeded by the Chamber, to support Hispanic business owners seeking to scale their companies and obtain contracts with private and public entities.

“The Hispanic community tends to be very young (30-35 median age) and entrepreneurial,” said Ortigoni. “This segment is opening businesses at a higher rate than any other demographic groups combined.”

“This creates an opportunity because our local Hispanic business community is seeking programs that provide capacity building and mentorship opportunities,” said Ortigoni. “Older generation business owners are selling or passing their businesses to the next generation. Many Hispanic entrepreneurs in this market purchase existing businesses.”

Ortigoni noted that Central Florida has also seen a lot of growth in franchises within the Hispanic business community, as these are proven business models with lower start-up risk. As for the future for Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs, the future looks bright as the business-friendly landscape as well as public and private funding and finance opportunities in the market grow.

In honor of June Pride Month, team members across Qurate Retail Group participated in Pride flag-raising ceremonies in support of our LGBTQ+ team members and community.

Qurate Retail Group comprises six leading retail brands – QVC, HSN, Ballard Designs, FRONTGATE, Garnet Hill and Grandin Road – all dedicated to providing a more human way to shop.

Originally published in Bloomberg’s 2023 Impact Report

We provide data and news on sustainability and equality to help investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers build more resilient and sustainable communities. We use the time and talents of our employees and resources of our business to promote a more inclusive global economy, expand access to data and technology, support diverse voices in media and the arts and meet urgent needs in the cities in which our employees live and work.

Promoting an inclusive global economy

We support efforts to make the world’s economy fairer and more inclusive.

Economic inequality presents a threat to the stability of the global economy and stifles innovation. Bloomberg provides corporate social and governance data, news and insights to help investors, corporations and regulators make well-informed decisions. In addition, we engage in a range of philanthropic initiatives to help make financial markets more transparent and accessible.

Facilitating corporate action – Bloomberg’s transparent and actionable social and governance data, scores and insights help investors and companies better evaluate assets and report on social performance. 

We currently provide more than 2,500 social and governance data points, including third-party data, offering insight on a wide range of issues such as workforce diversity, board composition, executive compensation, labor and employment practices, health and safety and much more. Our social and governance data is available on the Bloomberg Terminal, in our enterprise product solutions, including our Portfolio and Risk Management solutions, and as an enterprise data feed via Bloomberg Data License, which allows this information to be used across a firm by multiple applications and people. 

We provide proprietary scores that investors can use to quickly and simply evaluate companies’ management of financially material industry-specific social issues and opportunities, as well as governance policies and practices, with adjustments for country-specific rules and regulations. Available for more than 14,500 global companies, Bloomberg’s Governance and Social scores are data-driven and fully transparent, allowing users to examine the company-reported social and governance data underlying each score.
 Advancing the discussion – Our Bloomberg Equality vertical is committed to reporting on issues of race, diversity and fairness. Its content is available on the Bloomberg Terminal and on all Bloomberg Media platforms and is integrated across all content pillars such as climate change, technology and healthcare. 

In 2023, notable coverage included analysis of the progress of S&P 100 companies diversifying their workforces; reporting that showed how California is calculating the cost of reparations for the U.S. legacy of slavery and discrimination; how London lost its place at the heart of Black Britain; a series exploring India’s ruling on same-sex marriage; how Big Tech layoffs are hitting diversity and inclusion jobs; reporting on how race in college admissions became a U.S. flashpoint; and a Bloomberg Businessweek special issue dedicated to equality.
 Expanding horizons – Bloomberg employees build on our company’s legacy of helping to make financial markets more transparent and accessible by working with nonprofit partners to train and mentor individuals from underserved communities. A key focus for our company is demystifying financial services and motivating more young people to consider careers in financial services. In 2023, some of our programs included:The Bloomberg HBCU Trading ChallengeThe Greater Bay Area Fintech Talent InitiativeMIDE Global Money Week
 Opening doors – In keeping with our work to bring transparency, efficiency and fairness to financial markets, we leverage our expertise to create opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups to pursue careers in finance and high-growth industries. Highlights from the year include:Women in Finance initiativeBloomberg Women’s Buy-Side Network (BWBN)Girls Who Invest (GWI)

Expanding access to data and technology

We’re committed to creating a more level playing field in society by improving access to information. 

We share our expertise to help students and entrepreneurs acquire the technical and soft skills and support they need to unlock opportunity and drive progress in an increasingly digital world.

Supporting diverse voices in media and the arts

To broaden perspectives, enhance innovation and promote equality, we help women and people from diverse backgrounds share their ideas and insights with a wider audience.

We’re improving the mix of sources in our news stories to better reflect the demographics of our communities and working to ensure that a diverse range of voices are involved in reporting and shaping business news. We’re also helping cultural organizations expand audiences and amplify diverse voices through initiatives that support the work of artists from underrepresented communities.

Addressing the world’s most pressing needs 

Bloomberg gives back to the cities in which we live and work, using our employees’ time and talents and our company’s resources to address unmet needs and create lasting impact.

Our global employee giving and volunteer program, the Best of Bloomberg, harnesses the collective effort and generosity of our employees to strengthen our communities — and support the causes about which they’re most passionate. In 2023, over 19,000 employees from 101 cities volunteered their time and talents, helping to provide food and assemble necessity kits for vulnerable neighbors, serving as educational mentors, sharing pro bono legal expertise with individuals and small businesses, engaging in environmental stewardship and much more. In all, employees provided 183,537 hours of collective service in 2023, a 39 percent increase over the previous year. Key areas of action included disaster relief, protecting the planet, and legal pro bono work.

Read Bloomberg’s 2023 sustainability report to learn more about its environmental and social impact.

Originally published in GoDaddy’s 2023 Sustainability Report

Our Environmental Impact

We operate with future generations in mind.

As part of our ambition to be a powerful force for good, we embrace our responsibility to protect the environment. By focusing environmental efforts on our greatest areas of impact and influence, like our data centers and corporate real estate, we can do our part to protect the planet.

Climate Change Commitment 

We acknowledge that climate change is an urgent threat to our planet. We believe everyone has a critical role to play in addressing the climate crisis. Our position statement on climate change, published in 2022, highlights GoDaddy’s commitment to support urgent climate action.

GHG Emissions 

We set a goal to reduce scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions by 50% by 2025 from a 2019 baseline. We are happy to report that we achieved this goal in 2023 — two years earlier than anticipated. While we’re proud of our success, we know we still have more work to do. Moving forward, we hope to develop new and thoughtful plans that push us to reduce our environmental impact even further.

As of December 31, 2023, we reduced our scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions by 82% relative to our 2019 baseline. Scope 1 and 2 (marketbased) emissions totaled 9,602 mt CO2 e. The 2023 GHG inventory reflects increases in renewable energy coverage, improvements in energy efficiency, and consolidation of our physical footprint, which decreases our overall energy use. The inventory results also inform key areas where we can improve as we continuously evaluate the environmental impact of our operations.

GoDaddy follows the GHG Protocol and our established Inventory Management Plan to complete our annual emissions calculations. To determine the achievement of our scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions goal and the percent reduction achieved as of December 31, 2023, we calculated our scope 1 and scope 2 (market-based) emissions for 2023 and compared this to the same emissions from December 31, 2019. Prior to achieving our goal, we measured our interim progress annually by comparing our scope 1 and scope 2 (market-based) emissions at the end of the relevant reporting year to the same emissions from December 31, 2019.

50%: We achieved our goal to reduce our scope 1 and 2 (market-based) GHG emissions by 50% by 2025 from a 2019 baseline.

<1% Scope 16.4% Scope 2 – Market-Based67.4% Scope 3 – Purchased Goods and Services8.5% Scope 3 – Capital Goods3.6% Scope 3 – Fuel and Energy Related Activities1.3% Scope 3 – Upstream Transportation and Distribution<1% Scope 3 – Waste in Operations<1% Scope 3 – Business Travel1.3% Scope 3 – Employee Commuting9.5% Scope 3 – Use of Sold Products<1% Scope 3 – End of Life Treatment<1% Scope 3 – Investments

Operational Emissions (Thousand mt CO2e)

2019: 
Scope 1 – 1.36 
Scope 2 – 50.682020: 
Scope 1 – 1.30 
Scope 2 – 48.782021: 
Scope 1 – 1.22 
Scope 2 – 47.812021: 
Scope 1 – 1.24 
Scope 2 – 32.382022: 
Scope 1 – 0.83 
Scope 2 – 8.77

Renewable Energy Coverage (%)

2019: 28%2020: 27%2021: 27%2022: 40%2023: 65%

The Impact of Our Data Centers 

Our data center footprint drives our scope 1 and 2 emissions. Globally, we minimized the environmental impact of our data centers through energy efficient technologies and renewable energy. We also implemented energy management systems to monitor and optimize energy usage routinely. 

We increased our workload density in 2023, allowing us to consolidate our data center footprint, where we leverage scale efficiencies and improved power usage effectiveness, a key measure of data center energy efficiency. We also leveraged co-located data centers run by third parties and used key performance indicators to track our progress over time. 

Leveraging efficient technologies is part of our commitment to serving our customers. Since 2019, our Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) data centers used 100% renewable energy through purchasing Guarantees of Origin. In 2023, power usage at our Phoenix data center was also covered by 100% renewable energy from renewable energy credits. 

We regularly assess available and emerging technologies to understand how to best implement energy efficient and environmentally friendly solutions at our data centers. For example, in select data centers, we introduced HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) as an alternative for backup diesel generators. In 2024, we aim to identify additional opportunities to update infrastructure to enhance operational efficiencies.

Empowering our Entrepreneurs Working to Reduce Environmental Impacts

THE VILLAGE REFILLERY | CORRALES, NEW MEXICO

Entrepreneur Lauren Wenderoth, owner of the Village Refillery based in Corrales, New Mexico is on a mission to empower communities to embrace sustainable living by providing an alluring and accessible low-waste home shopping experience. Aligned with GoDaddy’s mission to empower entrepreneurs everywhere, Lauren uses GoDaddy’s tools and services to further scale her business, amplify her message, and make an even greater environmental impact. She participated in the Empower by GoDaddy program, GoDaddy’s signature social impact program, where she acquired these new digital skills and networks to support her business growth.

Lauren started The Village Refillery to channel her climate anxiety into actionable change. As a zero-waste refill shop, The Village Refillery helps customers avoid virgin packaging for their everyday home products by offering reusable, refillable containers. This keeps perfectly good jars and bottles in circulation rather than sending them to landfill. Lauren makes many of the products inhouse using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. For products she doesn’t make herself, Lauren sources wholesale from innovative companies who minimize plastic packaging and focus on limiting GHG emissions.

“GoDaddy enabled me to quickly and easily create a professional website that drew people in and led to sales. Being able to create the entire website myself helped me to save money and launch a viable business helping others be more sustainable in their daily lives.”

— Lauren Wenderoth 
     Owner, The Village Refillery

The Impact of Our Workspaces 

GoDaddy’s hybrid work model reduces our demand on the physical workspaces that comprise our corporate real estate footprint. To ensure we’re capturing the full impact of our workforce, however, we included emissions associated with employees who work from home in our 2023 GHG inventory. 

In 2023, the Global Real Estate team actively worked to optimize our real estate footprint, considering the utilization of the provided office spaces. Through our optimization efforts, we reduced our active global real estate footprint by more than 77,000 square feet in 2023. This metric reflects properties under our operational control, including owned and leased properties and vacant, non-sublet spaces. We continuously evaluate our environmental impact and make strides to improve for the benefit of our employees, the entrepreneurs we empower, and for the broader communities in which they grow and thrive.

Reducing E-waste in Our Operations

We promote waste reduction and recycling in our operations, including e-waste. This includes our e-waste recycler that repurposes GoDaddy’s unused technology.

In 2023, the Global Logistics team partnered with the Corporate Sustainability and ESG team to evaluate the GHG impact associated with collecting and recycling company e-waste from employees. We then leveraged this GHG analysis to inform changes to our e-waste practices.

To learn more, read our 2023 Sustainability Report.

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About this Report 

The GoDaddy 2023 Sustainability Report details our progress toward our corporate sustainability goals, strategies, and initiatives in support of our overarching corporate mission and values. Unless otherwise noted, this report reflects our corporate sustainability performance across our global operations covering the fiscal year period from January 1 to December 31, 2023. To demonstrate our commitment to transparent communication regarding our sustainability progress, we routinely share updates through our website and our annual Sustainability Report. We welcome your questions, comments, and feedback on this report by contacting ESG@GoDaddy.com.

This report references the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and includes select Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) metrics for the Internet Media and Services sector. We also disclose our contributions and progress toward priority UN SDGs. For additional information on how we align with these frameworks and key indicators demonstrating our sustainability performance, please review the Frameworks and Metrics section.

Building the workforce of tomorrow means investing in the students of today. That’s why Merck has partnered with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) — the largest historically Black college and university in the U.S. — to launch the Merck Biotechnology Learning Center.

“We’re pleased to launch this new collaboration with an institution that precisely aligns to our company priorities to invest in the growth and delivery of innovative health solutions and strong values around diversity and inclusion,” said Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division. “Together we can fuel the growth of talent for our company and the biotechnology industry overall.”

Located in the home state of the company’s Durham and Wilson manufacturing sites, the 4,025 square-foot facility will enhance academic programming and training for biotechnology careers for N.C. A&T students and provide advanced discovery opportunities through its classroom space, process laboratory and state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.

“This collaboration signifies a union between academia and industry, and a commitment to excellence, innovation and the advancement of scientific knowledge,” said Tonya Smith-Jackson, Ph.D., provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs for N.C. A&T.

The collaboration also signifies an investment in the community’s future by expanding local and statewide bioeconomy initiatives. Additionally, it will help to diversify talent and recruitment opportunities for Merck and offer vaccine manufacturing process training for new and existing employees.

“The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center will provide opportunities for N.C. A&T students to look inside the biopharmaceutical industry and understand what a career in this space looks like. Through our joint initiative with N.C. A&T, we’re developing new and innovative ways to build a pipeline of talent here in North Carolina and beyond,” added Amanda Taylor, vice president and Durham plant manager, Merck.

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